Assistance for utilities gets boost in funding

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A Pennsylvania program designed to help low-income residents pay their utility bills will receive an additional $52.3 million in federal funding, the state Department of Public Welfare announced Friday.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program runs until March 31, providing cash grants for help paying heating costs and crisis grants for heating emergencies.

The extra funding brings Pennsylvania's LIHEAP total to $209.5 million for this season. The program has helped nearly 270,000 households with cash grants and nearly 55,000 with crisis grants so far this season. Unseasonably warm weather has meant fewer applications this year.

The minimum cash benefit that recipients may receive is now $100, and the maximum crisis grant amount is $300.

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